Cable clamp



June 17, 1958 o. P. FALKENSTEIN 2,838,819

CABLE CLAMP Filed Sept. 16, 1954 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent The. invention described herein, if patented, may be I manufactured and used by or for the Government for govopenings 14 are located somewhat below the outer ends. of the openings 14, and open into the tapered opening 11 at the top of the same. The construction is such that the. curved openings 14 are generally inclined and diverge somewhat toward the top of the barrel 10, The outer ends or entrances of the openings 14. are smoothly rounded, and the curved shoulders blend smoothly into the bore of the tapered opening 11 a substantial distance below the top of the opening '11, as at 17. The curved shoulders 15 blend smoothly, although somewhat more abruptly into the outer elliptical surface of the barrel. 10v at 16, and the curved shoulders 15 are generally inclined.

' and divergent upwardly with respect to the tapered openernmental purposes, without the payment to me of any 7 proved simplified cable clamp, which may be readily assembled and disassembled Without the use of special tools, and designed to completely'cover and enclose dangerous loose ends of cables.

A further object is to provide a cable attaching device or clamp which will exert an increased holding or grips ping force upon the cable as the load upon the cable is increased.

Another object is to provide a device of the abovementioned character which is highly compact in construction, extremely strong and durable, inexpensive to manufacture, and adapted to satisfy a wide range of industrial uses where the free ends of'cables or like flexible elements must be attached to various structures and tightly secured in place under load.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a cable attaching device or clamp embodying the invention,

' Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 2+2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3. is a horizontal transverse section taken on line 3+3 of- Figure 2, and,

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device.

in the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10- designates generally a body portion or barrel which may be substantially elliptical externally in transverse cross section, as shown in Figure 3. The barrel 10.- is provided in its lowerend with an upwardly tapering conical opening 11. The tapered opening 11 terminates somewhat below the top end of the barrel 10, as shown, and the top wall 12 of the barrel has a reduced central openinglS formed therein, in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tapered opening 11, and substantially smaller in diameter than the tapered opening at th e smallest diameter of the latter. The opening 13 is a smooth opening, and is not screw-threaded.

The elliptical barrel 10 is provided in its side wall and adjacent to the upper end of the tapered opening 11 with a pair of generally radial openings or passages 14 which lead into the top of the tapered opening 11, at diametrically opposite positions of the same. The openings 14 are arranged in longitudinal alignment, along the major axis of theelliptical barrel 10, as indicated. The openings 14 are arcuate or curved longitudinally of the major axis of the elliptical barrel 10, and smoothly rounded convex shoulders 15 are formed by the openings 14 within the side wall oi the barrel 10. The inner ends of the. curved ing 1.1 and barrel 10.

The barrel 10 is further provided. in its side wall and lower end with a pair of shallow recesses or notches 18, likewise formed in the barrel 10 at the major. elliptical axis of the same, and arranged directlybelow the generally radial openings 14. The recesses 18 are preferablycircularly curved in cross section, and the walls of the recesses 18 diverge upwardly, so that the recesses. 18 are. deepest at the bottom end of the barrel 10 and increasingly shallow toward the top end of the barrel. The. re-. cesses 18 terminate near the longitudinal center of the barrel 1t), and blend smoothly into the outer surface or periphery of the barrel.

A truncated conical clamping member or plug 19 adapted 'for engagement within the conically tapered opening 11 is provided, and this plug has a central axial screw-threaded opening 20 extending longitudinally therethrough, axially alignable with the opening 13. The plug 19 is provided in its periphery, at diametrically opposite locations with longitudinal grooves21, extending throughout its entire length, and being circularly curved in cross section. The degree of taper of the plug 19 is. preferably the same as the degree of taper ofthe conical opening 11, and if the plug 19 is fully inserted into the opening 11, its periphery will contact substantially the entire side wall of the opening, whenits top end is in abutting rela tion with the top wall 12 of the barrel 10. The upper end portions of the grooves 21 are adapted to register with the inner ends of the openings 14 in assembly, as shown in Figure 2. 4

I also provide a screw-threaded rod or bolt 22' adapted for adjustably connecting the barrel 10 and plug 19- in clamping relation with the cable to be described. The bolt 22 extends through the clearance opening 13, and has screw-threaded engagement within the screw-threaded opening 20 of plug 19. A lock nut 23 is carried by the bolt 22, above the top wall 12 of the barrel 10, and this nut may be used to pre-load or grip the ends of the cable between the bore of the barrel I0 and the grooves 21, as

will be further described. The bolt 22 may have a hboktype head 24, as shown in the drawings, for connecting the device with various fixed supporting members.

Cable strands or sections 25 which'may be separate cables, or merely the untwisted strands of a" single cable, are adapted to extend longitudinally of the peripheryof the barrel 16 and engage within the diverging notches 18., as illustrated. The notches 18 serve. to prevent the cable strands 25 from shifting angularly of the elliptical barrel 10 in assembly, and also reduce bending of the strands 25 as, they extend across the lower corners of the barrel 10, Figure 2. The cable strands25 are further adapted to extend throughthe curved passages 14 0f the barrel 1 01 and to engage the rounded shoulders 15 without sharp bending. The curvature of the shoulders 15 is such that the end portions of the cable which enter the openings 14 from the exterior of the barrel 10 have a substantial radius of curvature, which relieves the cable strands from excessive strain. The cable strands engage, the curved shoulders 15 throughout the entire lengtlisof the 'slidul ders, asshown. Straight end portions 26 of the cable strands 25 extend downwardly from the curved passages 14, within the conically tapered opening or bore 11,

and thecable portions 26 in assembly engage within the longitudinal grooves 21 of the plug 19, throughout a conto arrange the extremities of the cable strands somewhat above the bottom end of the barrel, as shown in Figure 2,.to prevent dangerous loose ends or wire of the cable from projecting outside of the assembly. An important feature of the in'ventionis that the free end portions 26 of the cable strands may be fully housed or enclosed within the tapered bore 11 of the barrel 10,'and no rough or sharp portions of the cable are exposed for contact withahe hands or the like.

1 In use, the cable strands 25 are passed through the openings 14 from the exterior of the barrel and brought into engagement with the grooves 21. The bolt 22 and nut 23 may be adjusted to pre-load or tighten the clamping plug 19 into clamping engagement with the cable end portions 26. The plug 19 has a wedging action within the tapered opening 11, which forms .a socket for the plug and cable strands, and the cable portions 26 are clamped tightly between the grooves 21 and side wall of the tapered opening 11. When the assembly is tightened to the desired extent, the nut 23 serves as a lock to prevent further relative rotation between the bolt 22 and tapered plug 19. A very important characteristic of the device resides in the fact that as the load or tension on the cable strands 25 increases, the clamping engagement of the plug 19 .with the cable ends 26 is constantly increased. With this arrangement, it is impossible to pull the cable ends out of the grooves 21 and openings 14, and the cable would probably break before the strands 25 would disengage themselves from the device.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A clamp for cables or like flexible elements comprising a barrel provided with a relatively large tapered opening extending inwardly from one end thereof and terminating short of the other end to provide a closed end for said barrel, said barrel having a pair of lateral openings extending through the side walls thereof at diametrically opposed positions adjacent the inner end of the tapered opening and merging into the same and a relatively small opening through the closed end thereof centrally of the tapered opening and leading into the same,

a plug including a portion tapered complementary to the taper of the tapered opening in said barrel to adapt the same for wedging engagement in the said tapered opening, said plug being provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves in its side wall extending throughout its tapered length and adapted to register with the inner ends of said lateral openings when the barrel and plug are disposed in nested relation, means adapted to eifect the application of force in one direction to said clamp including a connecting member conformed to pass freely through the small opening in the closed end of said barrel and anchored to said plug and means for drawing said plug and barrel into the said predetermined nested relation, said force applying means locking said parts flexible elements having ends tightly clamped between the said longitudinal grooves in said plug and the wall of said tapered opening in said' barrel opposed thereto when said plug and barrel are in said predetermined nested relation, the said. flexible elements extending through the said lateral openings in said barrel to the exterior of the latterand the said lateral openings being generally convex in an end-to-end direction to force the portions of said flexible members projecting outwardly therefrom generally to adapt the same for effecting the application of force to said clamp in a direction opposed to the direction said force applying means effects application of force to said clamp so that the said barrel and plug are urged toward a more advanced position of nesting relationship when opposed forces are applied to said force applying means and flexible elements respectively.

2. A cable clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug has a screw-threaded axial bore and the means to effect the application of force in one direction to said clamp comprises a screw-threaded connecting rod threaded into the threaded bore in said plug and projecting freely through said small opening in the closed end of said barrel and a stop nut in threaded engagement with said connecting rod and abutting engagement with the exterior of the closed end of said barrel said nut being adapted to move said barrel and plug relatively to said predetermined nested position upon predetermined turning of said stop nut so that said barrel and plug may be moved to a more advanced position of nesting relation.

3. A clamp for cables or like flexible elements comprising a barrel provided with a relatively large tapered opening extending inwardly from one end thereof and terminating short of the other end to provide a closed end for said barrel, said barrel having a pair of lateral openings extending through the said walls thereof at diametrically opposed positions adjacent the inner end of the tapered opening and merging into the same and a relatively small opening through the closed end thereof centrally of the tapered opening and leading into the same, a plug including a portion tapered complementary to the taper of the tapered opening in said barrel to adapt the same for wedging engagement in the said tapered opening, said plug being provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves in its side wall extending throughout its tapered length, and adapted to register with the inner ends of said latter openings when the barrel and plug are disposed in nested relation, means e adapted to effect the application of force in one direction against retraction from the said position without impedto said clamp including a connecting member conformed to pass freely through the small opening in the closed end of said barrel and anchored to said plug and means for drawing said plug and barrel into the said predetermined nested relation, said force applying means locking said parts against retraction from the said position without impeding relative movement of the said plug and barrel to a more advanced position of nesting relationship, a pair of flexible elements having ends tightly clamped between the said longitudinal grooves in said plug and the wall of said tapered opening in said barrel opposed thereto when said plug and barrel are in said predetermined nested relation, the said flexible elements extending through the said lateral openings in said barrel to the exterior of the latter and the said lateral openings being generally convex in an end-to-end direction to force the portions of said flexible members projecting outwardly therefrom generally to adapt the same for effecting the application of force to said clamp in a direction opposed to the direction said force applying means effects application of force to said clamp so that the said barrel and plug are urged toward a more advanced position of nesting relationship when opposed forces are applied to said force applying means and flexible members respectively, and said barrel having axially extending recesses in the exterior thereof longitudinally aligned with said lateral openings and dimensioned to receive portions of said flexible elements exterior to said barrel to form guides for the same when force is applied to the clamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 George Dec. 31, 1912 Cole Dec. 11, 1928 Parrish J an. 8, 1929 Johnston Mar. 11, 1930 Hocher May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany May 3, 1890 Switzerland May 16, 1940 

